How can we trust God's timing in difficult situations, as seen in Exodus 11:1? Setting the Scene Exodus 11:1: “Now the LORD had said to Moses, ‘I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt, and after that he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out completely.’” Israel had waited through nine plagues, centuries of slavery, and the apparent silence of heaven. Yet God declared a precise “one more” moment that would end their bondage. His timing was not random; it was an intentional, promised point on His calendar. What Exodus 11:1 Shows About God’s Timing • God speaks before He acts, anchoring faith with a clear word (“the LORD had said”). • His timeline includes an exact end (“one more plague… after that”). • Deliverance arrives not barely but decisively (“he will surely drive you out completely”). • Delay never means defeat; it amplifies the certainty of His final act. Why God Often Waits • To complete His planned purposes (Psalm 31:15: “My times are in Your hands”). • To expose the futility of human resistance (Pharaoh’s hardened heart, Exodus 7–10). • To reveal His glory through decisive rescue (Romans 9:17). • To mature His people’s trust (Habakkuk 2:3: “Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay”). How to Anchor Your Trust in His Timing Today 1. Remember every season has an appointed end. Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season…” 2. Rest in God’s character, not in visible progress. Isaiah 55:9: “So are My ways higher than your ways…” 3. Rehearse His past faithfulness. The tenth plague and the Exodus became Israel’s lifelong testimony (Exodus 12:14). 4. Relate every delay to His bigger redemptive plan. Galatians 4:4: “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son…” Practical Ways to Wait Well • Meditate daily on promises like Romans 8:28; speak them aloud when anxiety rises. • Mark “delays” by journaling—note what God is teaching rather than what He seems to withhold. • Serve others while you wait; Israel borrowed silver and gold from Egyptians (Exodus 11:2–3), preparing for worship even before freedom arrived. • Celebrate small evidences of movement—each plague proved God’s word step by step. • Refuse shortcuts; Moses never negotiated an earlier exit on Egypt’s terms (Exodus 10:24–26). The Assurance We Carry Forward 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you…” When circumstances stall, Exodus 11:1 reminds us that God’s “one more” moment is already scheduled. He will act, and He will do so right on time—never a plague too early, never a deliverance too late. |